Lenovo Phab2 vs the competition: Battle of the phablets

There was a time when smartphones sporting displays measuring 5.5-inches and above were categorised as ‘phablets’. Today a 5.5-inch device isn’t considered large. The definition of phablet has moved one and smartphone OEMs are going as big as 6-inches and above, because why not? Last year, LeEco launched the Le Max with a 6.33-inch 2K display. It didn’t grab a lot of attention although it was a promising device. Earlier this year Xiaomi announced the Mi Max , a 6.4-inch smartphone. Unlike LeEco, it did grab attention due to its nominal price range. It was targeted at consumers who where looking for a large device for multimedia consumption. When it launched, it didn’t have any competition. However the exclusivity was short lived as Asus launched its own 6.8-inch phablet followed by Lenovo with its Phab2 series. Speaking of which, the Lenovo Phab2 was launched yesterday and is now the most affordable 6-inch plus device on the market. Here is a quick comparison as to how all of these lineup.

Lenovo is offering the most affordable jumbo-sized smartphones. However, considering the low price, the Phab2 and the Phab2 Plus cannot match the hardware features of the Mi Max or the Asus ZenFone 3 Ultra . An interesting point here is that how the 6-inch and above category of smart devices is gaining attention. Consumers looking for a large multimedia device used to rely on 3G/4G enabled tablets, but that is changing. This whole new category is growing fast and while it might not affect the traditional smartphone market, it will definitely capitalise on the tablet market. IDC stats back in August showed a fall in tablet shipments by 12.3 percent year-on-year. This is expected to fall further since tablets are now evolving into 2-in-1 devices.